that's not a recipe for growth and we can reduce our deficit, including making some smart decisions on medicare in particular, where we're focused on lowering health care costs by reforming how health care is delivered but we don't need to be voucherizing the system to dump those costs on to seniors because, frankly, they can't afford it right now. >> pelley: there is a lot of rhetoric about medicare. what do you intend to do? >> well, i don't want any change to medicare for current seniors or for those that are nearing retirement. so the plan stays exactly same. >> pelley: make sure i understand. the idea under your plan for future seniors would be that the federal government would write that senior a check, essentially and say "now, you can go buy a private insurance plan or you can buy medicare from the federal government"? >> s that essentially it? >> that's essentially it. people would have a choice of either traditional government-run fee-for-service medicare or a private plan which has to offer the same benefits. it can't be skinnyed down. >> pelley: will the check that comes fr